Machine for molding concrete fence posts



De@ 22, 1959 H. P. NICHOLSON ETAL 2,917,802

MACHINE FOR MOLDING CONCRETE FENCE POSTS Filed Sept. 7, 1956 a [|05 r floh Merrell R. Martn ATTORNEY/ MACHIHJE FOR MLDING CONCRETE FENCE POSTS i Harry P. Nicholson, Gorman, and Merrell R. Martin, McEwen, Tenn.

Application September 7, 1956, Serial No. 608,586

2 Claims. (Cl. 2S--41) This invention relates to improvements in machines for molding concrete fence posts.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a machine for molding concrete fence posts having a mold that may be quickly and easily disassembled, permitting the quick and easy removal of the finished posts from the molding machine after the concrete has set.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a concrete fence molding machine having improved means to economically fabricate fence posts and rails, the posts of which are provided with mortises for receiving the ends of the rails.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side view of the improved machine for molding concrete fence posts, with cores or blocks projecting into the mold forms.

VFigure 2 is a top plan view of the machine for molding concrete fence posts with the cores or blocks in the same position as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a transverse cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Figure 2 but with the cores or blocks retracted with respect to the mold forms.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a concrete fence post as molded by our improved concrete fence post molding machine.

Figure 6 is a view of a fence comprising posts and rails molded by our improved machine.

Figure 7 is a modied form of a detachable core or block that may be used in our machine for molding concrete fence posts.

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 4.

ln the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may designate the improved machine for molding concrete fence posts B and rails C.

The molding machine A comprises a supporting` table or frame 10 having the top thereof formed by longitudinal side rails or members 11 and 12 and spaced cross members 13, 14 and 15. The table or frame 11i is provided with legs or standards 16 at one end thereof, legs or standards 17 centrally thereof and legs or standards 13 at the other end thereof for supporting the table above the ground level. These legs or standards 16, 17 and 18 are preferably mounted at points where the cross members 13, 14 and 15 are joined with the side members 11 and 12, so that the table will be supported at points of greatest stress.

Secured to one end of each of the cross arms 13, 14 and 15, at one side of the table, as by welding, are form stops 2l). Formed in the cross arms 13, 14 and 15 at States Patent Y rice their oifsetV ends at the other side of the table are slots 21 for receiving form` holding wedges 22.

r[he mold form comprises a plurality of L-shaped members 25 each of which includes a bottom plate `26 and an `upstanding flange 27. These L-shaped vforms are placed upon the table 10 in the following manner; The lirst L-shaped member is placed upon the table 1l) with its upstanding flange `27 abutting the stops 20 and its bottom plate 26 resting horizontally upon the table top. The second adjacent L-shaped member is placed upon the table with its bottom plate 26 resting upon the top of the table and its upstanding ilange 27 contacting the side edge of the bottom plate of the L-shaped member. The third L-shaped member is placed upon the table top in the same manner as the second. The fourth or last form is L-shaped including a bottom plate and upstanding anges at each side edge. It is assembled as shown. Any number of these L-shaped members may be provided, however, l have found that four makes a compact mold. The last L-shaped member may be completed as a form by providing a complementary upstanding plate or wall 28 which closes the side of the form. The slots 21 are formed so that one end of the slot is in the same plane as the outermost surface of the plate 28,.

Suitable detachable end closures 29 and 30 are properly placed at the ends of the channels or troughs formed by the L-shaped members 27 and plate 28. They may be shaped to suitably figure the ends of the posts, asnote the recessing 29a shown in Figure 2. The ends may be properly located by means of pin and socket connections (not shown) formed in the mold parts. Wedges 22 are then placed in the slots 21 above described. The outermost form may comprise a complete channel. In such case the plate 28 is not used. Driving wedges 22 into slots 21 will compactly move the L-shaped members and the plate 28 into leak proof mold chambers or channels.

Slots or openings 35 are provided in properly spaced relation in the bottom plates 26 of the L-shaped members 25 for receiving cores or blocks 36 which may be moved into and retracted with respect to the molds. It is usually desirable to have at least three longitudinal cross rails between the posts. Therefore we have provided three of these cores or blocks 36 so that apertures may be provided through the molded fence posts for receiving three longitudinal cross rails. The cores or blocks 36 are mounted in sets upon elongated bars. 37 which are supported and operated by the leverage and linkage mechanism 40.

Depending portions 16a and 172L connected to cross members 13 and 14, at the inner sides thereof are provided with guide ribs 57 which receive the grooved ends of the core supporting bars 37, as is shown in the cross sectional View of Figure 8.

The mechanism 4t) is supported upon cross shafts 42 and 43 which are rotatably supported by anges 44 and 45 respectively provided on the legs 16 and 17 of the frame. Keyed between its ends to one end of shaft 43 laterally of the table is an operating lever 50, the upper portion of which forms` a handle. The lower depending portion 52 below shaft 43 is used to connect the shafts 42 and 43 for uniform rocking movements. Keyed to an end of bar 42 laterally of the table is an upstanding arm which is the same length as the arm 52 of lever 50. A connecting rod 68 is pivoted at 71 `to the lower end of arm 52 and at its opposite end is pivoted Y Keyed to the rod 42 are arms 75 for each of the channel ways of the form. Pivotally mounted on each arm 75, as by pin 76, is a connecting rod 71 which is pivoted at 82 at its other end to a flange v81 of the cross bar 37. Thus, each mold form'has abar 37 and the linkage connecting its ends to the shafts 42 and 43 for uniform parallel movement of-the same towards and away from the mold forms (see Figure 4).

As the arms 55 and 75 are of the same lengths and the bars 58 and 78 are also of the same lengths, it will be seen that when the bars 42 and 43 are rotated at the same time and to the same degree, the core supporting cross arms 37 will move in horizontal position bodily vertically so that the cores or blocks 36 may be moved into and retracted with respect to the mold channels. As the lever 50 is moved the shaft 43 will rotate the shaft 42 to the same degree as shaft 43, due to the linkage arrangement. Thus, when the handle 50 is moved in a clockwise'direction the cores or blocks 36 will be moved into the mold channel, and when the lever 50 is moved in a counterclockwise direction the cores or blocks 36 will be retracted from themold channel.

In Figure 7 we have shown a modified form of core or block 90 which is equivalent to the core or block 36, but removably connected to bar 37 by a screw 91.

Concrete fence posts may be molded in the improved molding machine according to the following method: the lever 50 is rotated in a clockwise direction so the cores or blocks 36 extend above the top of the table 10; The L-shaped members 25 are placed on top of the table 10, being centered so the apertures 35 of the bottom plate 26 will t over the respective raised cores or blocks 36. The upstanding flange 27 of the first L-shaped member placed upon the table Will abut the stops 20. The second, third and fourth L-shaped members are placed upon the table top with their apertures 35 receiving the cores or blocks 36. The upstanding flange 27 of each of the Lshaped members 25 will lie adjacent the edge of bottom plate 26 of the preceding L-shaped member defining troughs or channels between the flanges 27 of the successive L-shaped members. When the last L-shaped member has been placed upon the table top the plate 28 is placed adjacent the edge of the bottom plate 26 so that this last L-shaped member becomes a trough or channel. Wedges 22 are then loosely placed in slots 21. Closures 29 and 30 are then properly placed at the ends of the troughs or channels defined by the, L-shaped members and the wedges are forced into place. The mold is now ready to receive the concrete mixture. As the mold is vopen at its top for its entire length, concrete may be poured the entire length of the molds filling the molds quickly and easily. The top edges of flanges 27 and plate 28 lie in the same plane and a leveling tool may smooth the exposed sides of the channel ways.

After the concrete has set to the proper consistency, substantially rigid, yet not completely dried, the lever 50 is moved in a counter-clockwise direction, retracting the cores or blocks 36 from the interior of the mold, leaving rail receiving apertures in the molded fence posts.

When the concrete has set the wedges 22 are removed. The plate 28 is then removed and the first fence post removed from the L-shaped member of which the plate 28 formed one side. This L-shaped member is removed thus exposing the side of the next fence post which is removed. The L-shaped member which supported this fence post is removed and the removal process continued as above until all of the fence posts have been removed from the molds.

In Figure 5 we have shown a fence post that has been molded by the improved concrete molding machine. This fence post has a body portion 100, a top sloping end 101 and bottom end 102, with spaced apertures 103 therethrough for receiving the rails of the fence.

In Figure 6 we have shown the improved fence posts in *an upright position in the ground with longitudinal cross rails C fitted at their ends in the slots 103.

The rails C may be formed in the machine A with mold forms substantially the same as above described, except that they are not apertured for receiving cores.

Various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention and the method herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a machine for the molding of concrete fence posts and the like, the combination of a frame supporting an elevated horizontal table, a removable moldstructure supported upon the ta'ole dening mold forming channels, said mold structure including a bottom wall having relatively spaced openings therethrough opening into said channels, a pair of relatively spaced shafts ro tatably mounted upon said frame below the bottom wall in relatively spaced relation, a plurality of'core supporting bars having core studs thereon, inwardly extending arms keyed on each ofsaid shafts for each of said bars, links pivotally connected to the outer ends of said arms and pivotally connected to the ends of said bars, and means for rotating said shafts simultaneously comprising an operating lever pivoted intermediate its ends toone of said shafts with a handle portion at one side of said shaft and an extension portion at the opposite side of Ysaid shaft, the other shaft having a second lever keyed therewith extending from said shaft in a direction opposite to the extension portion of the first mentioned operating lever, and a rod connecting the extension portion of the operating lever with the outer end of said second lever whereby upon movement of the operating lever said shafts will simultaneously rock and through said arms and links horizontally move said bars simultaneously` for movement of the cores thereon into and out of said channels through the openings in the bottom wall.

2. A machie for molding concrete or cementitious fence posts as deiined in claim 1 in which the horizontal supporting table is of such length that all of the cores and leverage mechanism are located on substantially onehalf the length of the table, and in which theremovable mold structure supported upon the table extends the full length of the table and includes stops affixed to oneside of said table, a plurality of L-shaped channels comprising a bottom plate and an upstanding flange removably mounted upon said table, one of said L-shaped members being mounted so that its bottom plate lies upon the table with its upstanding flange abutting said stops, the remainder of the L-shaped channels being located upon the table so that each of the bottom plates lies upon the table and the upstanding flanges thereof lie adjacent and abut the free edges of the bottom plate of the next preceding L-shaped member whereby to provide channels, a flat plate positioned upon the table and closing the channel of the last L-shaped member at the free edge of the bottom plate of the last L-shaped member, Wedges attached tothe side of the table opposite the stops and securely holding the plate and the L-shaped members in leak proof channel providing connection upon the top of the table, and removable individual closures in each of said channels at the ends thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 791,417 Hagloch May 30, i905 839,812 Cooley Ian. l, 1907 841,080 Engstrom Ian. 8, i907 859,883 Hoskins July 9, 1907 889,091 Ballinger May 26, 1908 899,416 Kubach Sept. 22, 1908 965,909 Jordan Aug. 2, 1910 FOREIGN PATENTS 237,752 Switzerland Sept. 17, 1945 .hat

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFcE CERTIFICATE OF CGRRECTION Patent No.. 2,917,802 December 22, 1959 Harry P.. Nicholson et al,

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the seid Letters Patent should read as corrected below.,

In the grant, lines l end 2, for "Harry P. Nicholson, of Gorman, and Merrell H Martin, of McEwen, Tennessee," read m Harry P. Nicholson, of Gorman, and Merrell R., Martin, of McEwen, Tennessee, said Martin essignor to seid Nicholson, fm; liner ll, for nHarry P., Nicholson and Merrell R, Martin, their heirsn read Harry P.

Nicholson, his heirs M; in the heading to the printed specification, lines 4 and 5, for "Harry P., Nicholson, Gorman, and Merrell R. Martin,

McEwen, Tenn," yreed m Harry Po Nicholson, Gorman, and Merrell R, Martin, McEwen, Tenno, said Martin assigner to said Nicholson column l, line l5, after "posts" insert mand rails Signed and sealed this 24th day of May 1960.,

(SEAL) Attest: KARL H., AXLTNE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

